Automatic calipering and sorting mechanism



April 18, 1950 D. R. DE TAR 2,504,505

AUTOMATIC CALIPERING AND SORTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. fio/vAw 2. 9572a Apnl 18, 1950 D. R. DE TAR AUTOMATIC CALIPERING AND SORTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1947 INVENTOR. D0 N41. 0 R 557/32 ATTOE/VfVS April 18, 1950 D. R. DE TAR AUTOMATIC CALIPERING AND SORTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1947 INVENTOR 00mm 2 057212 BY A TTOQ N/FYS Q MN Patented Apr. 18, 1950 AUTOMATIC CALIPERIN G AND SORTING MECHAN IS Donald R. De Tar, White Plains, N. Y., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Allied Control Company, Inc., a corporation of New York Application February 15, 1947, Serial N 0. 728,7 73

29 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic sorting mechanisms.

An object of this invention is a relatively sim- :ple, highly efficient and comparativelyinexpensive mechanism which will accurately gage units with respect to a characteristic thereof and deposit the gaged units in different bins according to the variation of theunit characteristic from a predetermined standard. 1

A machine embodying the invention utilizes the principle of the optical lever, a device wellcillating hopper and arranged to scan all possible positions of the emergent beam and reflect it when intercepted back to a common photocell, and magnetically operated stopping means for arresting the motion of the oscillating hopper when the emergent beam isintercepted by the scanning mirror.

The specific embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is designed specifically to sort parts according to a linear dimension. Such a device is of particular utility in connection with the gaging and sorting of thin mica sheets. Nevertheless, the invention is equally applicable to the gaging and sorting. of units according to other physical properties such as weight, color, hardness, etc.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partially broken away of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4. is an end view from the right ofFig. 2, and I i Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

A table top I0 is provided with an opening Illa in which is arranged a chute ll together with a rotatable horizontal shaft I2 to which the chute is fixed. Below the chute is a series of sorting chutes Ila having their upper ends defining an arc concentric with the shaft l2 and extending substantially radially of the shaft axis. An arm I; carried by the shaft l2 has its free'endconning mirror moved in synchronism with the osnected by a link H to one end of a lever l5 pivoted on a pin l6 supported by a bracket I! mounted on the table top It. In the bracket I! is journalled a shaft [8 to which is attached a drive pulley l9 and a cam 20, the surface of which is arranged to co-operate with a follower 2| located at the remaining end of the lever l5. The pulley I9 is driven from a motor 22 through a belt 23. The cam 20 is formed with a short radius are a and a long radius arc b, both concentric with the shaft l8 and interconnected by surfaces 0 and d. An arm 24 shaped as a segment of a pulley fixed to the shaft l2 has one end of a cable 25 attached to its free end. The cable 25 passes around an idler pulley 26 located above the shaft l2 and has its remaining end attached to the free end of an arm 21 likewise shaped as a segment of a pulley fixed to a sleeve 28 rotatably mounted on a vertical stud 29 supported by the table top 10. An arm 30 supported by the sleeve 28 and adjustably attached to the arm 21 carries a mirror 3| at its free end. A spring 32 biases the arm 30 clockwise (Fig. 1) and through the cable connection between the arm 30 and the arm 24 also biases the shaft [2 counterclockwise (Fig. 5). An arm 33 fixed to the shaft [2 is provided at its outer end with a series of ratchet teeth 34. A pivotally supported pawl 35 is provided for cooperation with the ratchet teeth 34 and a spring 36 biases the pawl toward the teeth. A suitably supported solenoid 31 has its plunger connected to the pawl 35 for moving the pawl away from the teeth 34 upon energization of the solenoid. The arrangement of the pawl 34 and ratchet teeth 35 is such as to oppose counterclockwise movement of the shaft (Fig. 5) while at all times permitting clockwise movement of said shaft. The energizing circuit for the solenoid 31 includes a suitable source of electrical energy (not shown) and the contacts of an electromagnetic relay 38, the coil of which, together with a microswitch 39, is included in the output circuit of a thyratron type electronic relay 40. The relay 38 is so designed that when it is de-energized the solenoid energizing circuit is closed. A. photoelectric cell 41 controls the input circuit of the electronic relay 40. The switch 39 is of the selfclosing type and has its operating member engaging a cam 42 fixed to the shaft l8 and! having two different radius arcuate surfaces e and ,f concentric with the shaft. With this arrangement, the switch 39 is closed when its operating member engages the small radius surface 6 and open when said member engages the large radius surface i. The electronic relay 40 is so designed that of the chute 43 is arranged a stationary anti-il 44 supported by the arm Ila ofthe bracket H. 'A metal block 45 supported from the bracket 1H for movement relative to the anvil 44 by horizontal resilient plates 46 is provi'de'dwith an extension 41 projecting toward-the fanvil metal block 48 is fixed to the bracket l'l'in close proximity to the block 45. A.IBVBPMSLPiVGtQHY supported by the bracket I! has one end connected by an expansible link 50 to remnants and is provided at its other end with a pin 5i which: engages a-cam 52 fixed to the shaft l'a arid having two difierent diameter concentric arcuate rsur' facesg and h. Two thin parallel flexible members 53 an'd-54 I are nked respectively to the 'movable-block 4'5 and the fi-xed block-48 and. have the'lr-free ends fixed to the rear -of a vertical mirror 55. Movementof-the block wand its ex- .tension 41 relative to the anvil 44 causes swingiing m'ovement f the mirror- 55 to an i extent dependent upon the extent of linear "movement of the-block "45. A third resilient member 56 has one Lend -fixed 'to the block 45 and its remaining en'd bearing against the r-im of the -mirror '5. Elie-arrangement of thesurfaces g and h of the :cam i 52 :issuch that with-the pin 5| engaging :the smaller radius'sur'facey the-block 45 and rprojection 4! are at the right -'end of their path :of movement and with the' pin 5| engaging-the larger radius surface-hare pulled to -the le'ft-'= end w'i' theirpath (Fig. i2)

A light source 5! projects 5 to the mirror 55 a collimated beam of "light which isl reflected by the niirror55 into- -the -path of the mirror 31. The mirror 3! is properly arranged on the ar-m to re-fleet to the :photoelectric cell 4| the beamoi light directed to itiloy the mirror 55. Th'edoca- .tlon of the arm 30 at which-the mirror-3| re- -'flects the beam of light to the photoelectric cell ll: depends uponthe angular position of the mirror-55 which in turn=depends upon the spa-ce "and projection 41.

relationexisting between the ends of the Istationaryanvil :44 and the projection i'i of the .lmovable member 45.

For the purpose of tracing the' 'cycle -of operathen 'of -the machine, -'assume-'=that-'the arm 30 is the position shown in Fig. 1 and-th'e chute H is in the'positionshown inFig. '5 in register with "the extreme right chute i1 Ha (Fig. 2') lhe pin 2! contacts the surface b -of 'the eam 1; 23 :at= the rear-end of said surface. 'I-he projection 4! is'i-n "its extreme rightward position with the pin fli'l engaging the lagging end of the sur'face g or the *cam' 52 and the mirrors-'55 an'd tlare in position to direct 'the beam L of -light from thelig'ht source *5lto' the photoelectric -=oe11 M therebyexciting th'e latter. The:.switch s'9 is 'closed by engagementof its operating member -w-ith"th"e leading end of the surface -22 of the cam 12 andtheelecitronic relay All is energized so that the electros- "magnetic" relay '=38 -=is 'energlzed, thereby opening cthe energizing circ-u-it of the 'solenoid 31. The 'paw'l is bia'sed by the spring 36 1 into engage- *ment with the*extreme left ratchet tooth 34 5) #"The "operation ofthe machine is such engaging the surface a of the cam 20 except at the trailing end thereof. However, for the purpose of clarifying the sequence of movement of the various parts of the machine, the period of rotation of the cam 20 during which its surface a would be engaged by the pin 2|, if not preventedxwill hereinafter'beiterme'd'i'the low dwell period of the' cam 20. hs the shaft Hirotates, the surface I) of the cam 20 moves out from unider the pin 2|, but the lever [5 remains in the .position. shown inEig. 5 by reason of the engagement d'f'the paWI35 with the extreme left ratchet tooth 34. After sufiicient rotation of the shaft 48 for the cam fll'to begin its low dwell period,

the--sur'face-"h"of the cam 52 engages the pin 5!,

thereby'rocking the lever 49 and through the medium of thelink 50 pulling the block 45 to the left and holding it in such position with maximum-"spacing between the projection 41 and the anvil 44. Further rotation of the shaft I8 brings fthesurfaceifiroflthe-eam niintoengagement:with

the operating member of the switch 39 :and1near the end of the low dwell period of ithe cam. 2% to open the "swi'tch Ithereby de energizing the relectromagneticrelay J '38 and :eiiecting energizw tion of thesolenoid J31 to-filift the pawl :35 away firomlthe ratchetz'teetn 3'4. Thereuponithe arm :39 s-wings elockwise (F'ig. 1) land the chute 2H swings counterclockwise (Fig. 5) :under theriniluence of the spring '32 with concomitant clockwise rotation of the lever ':l5=unti1 '='the' pin -2 1 en- :gagesthesurfa'ce d of' the cam-120. Engagement of- -the pin 2! with the ncam sur-face d results in :counterclockwise irotation of the lever 15 to return 'thechute I i-and :arm s'ill together with the mirrer 3! to theiroriginalpositions; such. return being accomplished =when the sur faee b of :the cam ZB again underlies the pin 21. Asthe suria'ce b :progr'esseselong under the pin 2|, the --sur-face e pf the cam -42 -'engages the operating :member of the switch 39 "to close the relay 38 energizing circuit which, "however; is not energized" until the mirrors and 31 are again "in suchposition 'that thephotoelectric cell 4 I again i's-excited, such vi condition being dependent upon the position of the block 45. Slightly priorto or simultaneously with -'-theopening of the switch 39, the surface-'g:'ofthecam 52-engages the pin 5| to permit *r'ightwar'd "movement of the block Assume, *however, that "before" release of the block-45, apiece of mica *has been interposed between the projection 41 and theanvil 44. The mirror lie-will now assume adifferent position from its orlg-inaliposition tiependent upon the thickness of the "mica sheet *anda position in which the-mirror {M willnot "intercept*the-beampf -lightreflected by the =mirror 55, with' thearm 3i] -inits 'm'ost'eounterclockwise position. Consequently, the electronic relay '40- willremain"de energized'andthesolenoid 3'! will remain energized to keep the pawl "35'out 'of'enga'gement withthematchet teeth 34. -When the surface b of the cam 25] again moves "out from under "the pin "2|, "the "pin will follow the surface c of the'=cam20' and the lever "l5 will rotate clockwise and the chute II will rotate counterclockwise'under the'infiuence of the spring 32 until'themirror'fil intercepts "the beam of light reflected 'bythe mirror 55and 'directs the re- "flected beam to the photo electric cell *4! The 'photo-electric "cell, upon 'excitation,-causes en- =ergization oft-he electronic relay 40 aspreviousl'y {described to "release *the pawl 35 which "is "then "drawn by the-spring '36 "into engagement with that the' pin 2-1 attimes may be *preverlted from '75 'theratch'et teeth a l to prevent further-movement of the chute II and the arm 30,; The arm and chute H are then stopped with the chute II in register with one of the chutes Ila. The chute I I and arm 30 are held in this position until the switch 39 is again actuated to energize the solenoid 31 and lift the pawl 35. However, previous to actuation of the switch 39, the block is moved to the left as previously described, thereby releasing the piece of mica and allowing it to drop throughthe chute I I into the registering sorting chute I la.

,A suitably mounted signal lamp 58 is com nected to ground across the switch 39 in suchmanner that the lamp is lighted when the switch is closed. The lamp, therefore, is out during the period that the projection 41 is in its retracted position. In feeding mica to the machine, the operator places the mica sheet between the projection 41 and anvil 44 during the lightout period and holds it in place until the block 45 is released and the mica sheet is clamped between the projection and the anvil. If the operator drops the mica before it is gripped or the mica is too thin to be gripped, it is delivered by the chute II to the extreme right chute I la. If the mica sheet is thick enough to be gripped by the projection t] and anvil 44, it is eventually dropped into the chute I la with which the chute II is brought to rest as above described.

It is of course understood that various modifications may be made in the structure above described, without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gaging and sorting device comprising a fixed first member, a second member movable relative to and biased toward said fixed member and adapted to be spaced therefrom in accordance with a dimension of an object being gaged, a swinging chute in alinement with the space between said members, an oscillatable first mirror, a second mirror, a pivoted arm supporting said second mirror for movement along an arcuate path, a light-sensitive element, means for projecting a beam of light to said first mirror, said two mirrors being arranged to direct said beam of light to said light-sensitive element in diliferent relative positions of said mirrors, interconnecting means between said movable member and said first mirror for varying the angular position of said first mirror in response to linear movement of said movable member, means for swinging said arm and chute, and means controlled by said light-sensitive element for interrupting the swinging movement of said arm and chute,

2.-A device according to claim 1 characterized by means operated in timed relation'to said arm and chute-swinging means for rendering inoperative said interrupting means. i

3 3. A device according to claim 1 characterized second member away from said first member.

5. A gaging and sorting device comprising a hired first member, asecond member movable relative to and biased toward said fixed member and adapted to be spaced therefrom in accordance with a dimension of an object being gaged, a swinging chute in alinement with the space between said members, an oscillatable first mirror, a second mirror, a pivoted arm supporting said second mirror for movement along an arouate path, a light-sensitive element, means for projecting a beam of light to said first mirror, said two mirrors being arranged to direct said beam of light to said light-sensitive element in different relative positions of said mirrors, interconnecting means between said movable member'and said first mirror for Varying the angular position of said first mirror in response to linear movement of said movable member, means. including a cam and a spring for oscillating said chute and arm, means for operating said cam, and means responsive to said light-sensitive element for locking said arm and chute in. any one of several positions against movement by said spring.

6. A device according to claim 5 characterized by means operated in timed relation with said iam for rendering said locking means inopera- 7. A device according to claim 5 characterized by means operated in timed relation with said cam for temporarily moving said second. member away from said first member.

8. A device according to claim 5 characterized by means operated in timed relation with said cam for rendering said locking means inoperative, and means operated in timed relation with r said cam for temporarily moving said second member away from said first member.

9. A gaging and sorting device comprising a fixed first member, a second member movable relative to and biased toward said fixed member and adapted to be spaced therefrom in accordance with a dimension of an object being gaged, a swinging chute in alinement with the space between said members, an oscillatable first mirror, a second mirror, a pivoted arm supporting said second mirror for movement along an arcuate path, a light-sensitive element, means for projecting a beam of light to said first mirror, said two mirrors being arranged to direct said beam of light to said light-sensitive element in different relative positions of said mirrors, interconnecting means between said movable member and said first mirror for varying the angular position of said first mirror in response to linear movement of said movable member, .means'ine eluding a cam and a spring for oscillating said chute and arm, means for operating said cam, a biased latch member for locking; said arm and chute in any one of several positions against movement of said spring, and a solenoid controlled by said light-sensitive element for rendering said latch inoperative.

10. A device according to claim 9 characterized by means operated in timed relation with said cam for controlling the energization of said solenoid.

11. A device according to claim 9 characterized by means operated in timed relation with said cam for temporarily moving said second member away from said first member.

12. A device according to claim 9 characterized by means operated in timed relation with said cam for controlling the energization of said solenoid, and means operated in timed relation with said cam for temporarily moving said second member away from said first member.

said dimension of different such objects, a first mirror and means connecting said movable second member to said first mirror for varying the position thereof to correspond to the position of said movable member, means for projecting a beam of light to said first mirror, a second mirror and means movable in synchronism with said sorting device for moving the same throughout a scanning path including substantially all possible positions of the reflection of said beam from said first mirror, a light-sensitive element, said mirrors being arranged to reflect said beam to said light-sensitive element When during the cycle of said mechanisms said sorting means is at an assortment point corresponding to said dimension of said given object, and means controlled by said light-sensitive element for arresting the motion of and fixing the position of said sorting means at the latter assortment point when said beam impinges on said light-sensitive element, said cyclically operable mechanisms being so operable in timed relation to each other that said arresting and fixing occurs after said gaging.

25. A device as in claim 24 including cyclically operable means operated in timed relation to said cyclically operable mechanism for periodically rendering said last-mentioned means inoperative to arrest motion of said sorting means.

26. A device as in claim 25 in which said means controlled by said light-sensitive element comprises a thyratron type relay energized when said light-sensitive element receives said beam and means actuatable by said relay when energized for arresting and fixing as aforesaid, and said cyclically operable means comprises a cyclically operable switch for cyclically deenergizing said relay.

27. A device for gaging and sorting objects according to a selected dimension thereof comprising means for gaging said dimension including a first member and a second member so movable with respect to said first member that said members are adapted to engage therebetween a given object at opposite ends of said dimension, a sorting chute adapted to receive and direct said given object after gaging by said gaging means to an assortment point corresponding to the said dimension thereof, a cyclically rotatable member having thereon a plurality of cams including a first such cam for periodically withdrawing said second member from said first member whereby said given object may be placed therebetween for gaging and a second cam for periodically driving said chute throughout a plurality of positions corresponding to a plurality of assortment points corresponding to said dimension of difierent such objects, a first mirror, and means connecting said movable second member to said first mirror for varying the position thereof to correspond to the position of said movable member, means for projecting a beam of light to said first mirr01, a second mirror and means movable in synchronism with said chute for moving the same throughout a scanning path including substantially all possible positions of the reflection of said beam from said first mirror, a light-sensitive element, said mirrors being arranged to refiect said beam to said light-sensitive element when during the cycle of said rotatable member said chute is at an assortment point corresponding to said dimension of said given object, and means controlled by said light-sensitive element for arresting the motion of and fixing the position of said chute at the latter assortment point when said beam impinges on said lightsensitive element, said cams being arranged such that said arresting and fixing occurs after said gaging.

28. A device as in claim 27 including a third cam on said rotatable member and a switch in the circuit of said last mentioned means, said third cam being arranged to actuate said switch periodically for periodically rendering said lastmentioned means inoperative to arrest motion of said sorting means.

29. A device as in claim 28 in which said means controlled by said light-sensitive element comprises a thyratron type relay energized when said light sensitive element receives said beam and means actuatable by said relay when energized for arresting and fixing as aforesaid, and in which said switch is in the input circuit of said relay whereby said relay is periodically deenergized by said switch.

DONALD R. DE TAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 50 Re. 12,523 Hollerith Aug. 28, 1906 1,443,193 Phelps Jan. 23, 1923 1,961,892 Raymond June 5, 1934 2,046,005 Spreaker June 20, 1936 2,344,596 Carmina Mar. 21, 1944 5 2,392,856 Martinec Jan. 5, 1946 

